Men’s Olympic Games SF preview

The Men’s Football Olympic Games has reached the semi-final stages, which means three of the four final nations participating will be able to go home with a medal in their pocket and adding one to the overall medal tally for their country.

The final four teams consist of Brazil, Japan, Spain and Mexico, with each of the teams having been able to provide solid accounts of themselves so far within the Games.

Japan are the hosts of the competition and have performed brilliantly well, with individuals such as Takefusa Kubo putting in a number of displays that would highlight just why Real Madrid opted to sign him when they did. Whether he will be a part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans this season remains to be seen, but if he were to be made available for a loan switch, then there will likely be a number of clubs interested.

In fact, Kubo could be key for his country in their last-four tie, as they will face Spain for a place in the final. The Spanish side are unbeaten so far, having managed to beat Australia either side of draws with Argentina and Egypt in their Group C matches, before dismantling the Ivory Coast in the previous round with a 5-3 victory after extra-time courtesy of a hat-trick from Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Rafa Mir. Those who like to bet on the football action and get the best sign up bonus casino China has to offer will have been in the money if they had managed to predict that!

Spain did get lucky in that game, though, as  Mir’s goal was an instant reply from Max Gradel’s seemingly last-minute winner, before Manchester United’s Eric Bailly had a minute of madness and a moment to forget as he handled the ball in the penalty box as he went from hero to villain after scoring the opening goal.

Brazil are the current Olympic Games champions, though, and they will want to be in a position to be able to win back-to-back Games when they take to the pitch, although a challenge against Mexico will await them. Brazil managed to edge past Egypt 1-0 when Matheus Cunha’s first-half strike was enough to book their place in the Semi-Finals.

Mexico – whose other national team in competition were beaten in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday – will want to do better than their colleagues when they take to the field. They booked their place in the last-four by defeating South Korea in a game that included nine goals, with the Mexicans able to win 6-3.